Well-drilling apparatus



sepa. 16, 1924. 1,508,704

R. E. LEONARD I WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. .2,V 1921 2sheets-sheen 1 Jpgbz. l Z? J5 gib if 5/ 52' DI IL CKE a? ZZ D 50 j@ j V'55d www# Sept. 16, 1924.`

R. E. LEONARD WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2.

1921 2 SheeLS-Sheet` 2 j w W P y f 6 u mf M 0 M n W 7 H a A/H. ff M Q yw luvulln/llnul l ,w M M ww -k p @atente sept. M1924.

STATES ROY E. LEONARD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' WELIFDBILLING APPARATUS.

To all whom z't'mm/ concern:

v citizen of the United States, residing in- Los Angeles, county Vof LosAngeles, State of California, have invented newand useful improvementsinl Well-Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with well drilling apparatus such as is used indrillin oil and water wells, and it is an object 0% the invention toprovide improvements in apparatus of this character to simplify itsconstruction and operation.

A noteworthy feature of the invention is the mechanismand arrangement bywhich the drilling line is supported or connected to the mechanism whichoperates or reciprocates it. The supporting mechanism is adjustable sothat the drilling line can be supported at various heights and means isprovided for adjusting of the supporting mechanism. With the arrangement-provided by the invention the adjusting means is located at aconvenient part of the apparatus and is always adjustable and easilyoperable regardless of whether or not the apparatus is in operation. jAnother feature of' the invention, is the provision of uidpressure meansfor adjustlng or regulating the height of the drilhng line embodying noiuid carrying parts, joints or connections subject to movement or liableto fail. The arrangement, of said means allows it to be of heavy strongconstruction without making the apparatus cumbersome' or un ainly. y,

Another particu arfeature of the invention is the provision of adrilling apparatus with fluid pressure means convenlently available forwrenching casings, tools, etc., and also capable of performing otherfunctions. The invention providesiuid pressure means in the apparatus insuch combination with the otherv available or adjusting the drillingline, wrenching casings or -drill-ing tools, etc., and for performingike operations.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and morefully understood from the following detailed description of a typicalform n of the invention throughout which reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Flg. 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a typical well drilling apparatus embodyin the present invention;Fig. 2 is a plan view o arts of the apparatus as to be Application ledFebruary 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,953.

the same being a view taken as indicatedby line 2-2 on Flg. 1; Fig. 3 isan enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3--3'onFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3, being a viewtaken as indicated by line 4 4 on F1g. 3; Fig. 5 is any end v'iew of theparts shown in Fi 3 being a sectional view taken as'indicate by line 5-5on Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of theouter end portion of the walking beam.

n the drawings I show a portion of a typical Well drilling apparatusembodying the present invention. Numeral 10 designates the main sill ofthe frame structure 11 which includes the derrick ioor 12, the Samsonpost 13, the headache post 14, the jack post 15, etc. A walking beam2l-is-earried on a saddle 22 having trunnions 23 journaled in side irons24 which are mounted on the upper end of the Samson post 13. ln theparticular arrangement shown in the drawings the walking beam 21isadapted to be operated from a crank 25 through a suitable connecting rod26. The crank 25 is carried on shaft 27 driven through the band wheel28. The` structure and arrangement herein so far set forth is common toap aratus of this character and is merely typical of that in connectionwith which the present invention may be embodied.

In accordance with the resent invention a bracket 30, carrying a pu le3,1, is mounted on the outer end of the wa king beam 21,

that is the'end of the walking beam o po site to that to which theconnecting r 26 is connected, and a bracket 32 carrying two pulle s 33is mounted at thecenter' of the walkmg'beam 21. The pulleys 33 are onopposite sides of the beam 21 and are outward of the sides ofthe beam,as will be clearly seen from ins ection of Fig. 2 of the drawings. Ailexl le member 35, preferably a flexible cable or chain has an outerpart 35a, carried in the ulley 31 so that its outer end hangs from tlieouter end of the walking beam 21 to carry a cable clamp 19. The innerend of the .part 35 is connected by a cross bar 35", tothe two parts 37of the flexible member which are carried in j carried bybrackets e()mounted ony the sides of the Samson post. After passing aroundl to .twoparts of the cross head 42, as vit is obvious how a single part' mightbe arranged over single pulleys arranged similarly to those hereinaboveset forth to perform substantially the same function. The principalobject in dividing the members 35 into the two parts 37 is to balance orv equally distribute the load or strains in the crossk head 42 so thatit will operate easily in the guides 43. The clamp 19, connected to theouter end Aot the part is adapted to carry'the drilling line 16 whichextends through the derrick floor 12 and into the casing 18 and carriesat its lower end drilling tools 17.

With the arrangement and structure above described rotation of the shaft27 through band wheel 28 will cause swinging or operation vof the4walkin beam 21 through crank 25 and rod 26.y he walking beam 21 inoperating raises anddro s the outer portion 35a' of the lexible mem er35 and therefore the clamp 19 thus operating the drilling line 16. Itwill be obvious how movement of the cross head 42 in the guides 43 willcause movement of the parts 37 over pulleys 39, 38 and 33 causingmovement of the outer portion' 35 of the flexible I member 35 overpulley41 thereby adjust-y ing 0r varying the'positioning ofthe clamp ytothe desired position.

' 42 located at a pintcrem'oved from the arts it' 19 relative totheouter end of the walking beam 21. By moving the cross head 42 thedesired amount the clam 19 can be adjusted ith the cross head walkingbeam and other moving can be very easily and safely move or adjustedwhen the apparatus 1s in operation.

With the particular arrangement of pulleys shown in the drawings theorative length of the flexible member '35 kvaries only an innitely smallamount between the two extreme positions of -the beam 21, vand there isWorking or friction in only a ve small portion of the member l35. The ony p0rtions of the member 35 which move or work during'operation of theapparatus are those portions of the parts 37 extending around thepulleys 33 and 38 and that part of the outer part 35 which extendsaround the pulley 31. All other parts ofthe member 35 move bodily asthough they were rigid. If it is so desired Va curved guide plate 50,

. curved concentrically with the trunnions 23,

may be rovided at the outer end of the walking eam 21 toguideI-the.outer part 35* of the member 35 so that it moves in a truly verticalline. When the guide plate 50 is employed there is a slight working inthat portion of the member 35 which is carried an the guide plate.

In the' preferred form of the invention the means forv operating thecross head 42, and therefore the member 35, is fluid pressure means andcomprises a cylinder and piston mechanism 54. mounted on the main sill10 referably between the Samson post 13 andlheadache post 14. A piston56 is adapted to reciprocate in `the cylinder and is connected to thecross head 42'by a suitable connecting rod 57 extending through astulling box 58 lin one end ofthe cylinder and an opening 59 in theSamson post 13.' Fluid under pressure is adapted to be admittedzfrom thesupply pipe 58 into the ends of the cylinder 55 through a ldistributingvalve 59 and pipes `60. The valve 59 is operable to admit iluid frompipe 58 into either of the pipes 60 and simultaneously allow fluid toescape from the other pipe 60 through the exhaust pipe 60'. Auxiliarescape valves 60b may be provided to allow escape of fluid from thecylinder to adjust the positioning of the cross head and drilling line.In the preferred arrangement of the cross head and cylinder and pistonmechanism the cross head is held .out or away from thecylinder fluid is,allowed to escape from the cylinder ythus `war y. It is obvious how anydesired ermitting the cross head to move in amount of lluid maiy] beallowed to escape from the cylinder t us lowering the drilling line andtools the desired amount. It is to be noted that the cylinderl andpiston mechanism, which adjusts or regulates the drilling line 16through the connecting or flexible member35, is located where it can beeasily and conveniently o erated at any time and where it can be ostrongheavy construction without making it necessary to make other partsof the apparatus-particularly strong and heavy. `For instance, if thecylinder and piston mechanism were located on the Walking beam 21,.r orwere suspended at the end of the walking beam 21, as heretoforeproposed, it would be necessary to provide a particularly heavy orstrono' walking beam and to rovide exceptionally heavy or strong conuits to sup ly the necessary fluid pressure to the cylin er.

A cylinder 55 is lli In fact, it has been found in practice diiiicult,and in fact practically impossible, to successfully communicate fluidpressure to a cylinder, or the like, located on or suspended from thewalking beam 'I he fluid pressure connections and conduits used inconnectionY with the cylinder and piston mechanism of the presentapparatus may be of ordinary weight and construction.

With the c linder and piston mechanism arranged, as s own in thedrawings, between the Samson post and headache post it can beadvantageously employed for wrenching tools, casings, and for performingsimilar duties. The means provided by the present invention for makingthe cylinder and piston mechanism available for performing these dutiescomprises, generally, a rod connected to the cross head 42, yandflexible members, 71, such as chains or cables, connected to therod 70and adapted to connect to wrenches 72, or the like. rllhe rod 70 may beadvantageousl connected to the upper part of the cross ead 42 wherefromit may extend through an opening 'in the Samson post and be carried in aguide 76 arranged at one end of the cylinder 55. A transverse head 77may be provided on the outer end of the rod 70 to carry the flexiblemembers 71. The flexible members 71 are preferably carried by pulleys 90mounted at opposite sides of the'post 14 and are adapted to connect tothe outer end portions of the `wrenches 72 which are arranged ondrilling tools, casings, or the like.r With this apparatus the lcylinderand piston mechanism may be operated to effectively and properly wrenchtools or casings. With wrenches 72 arranged on the parts to be wrenched,as shown in Fi 3 and 4 of the drawings admission of iluld into thecylinder 55 to move the cross head 42 out, or

away vfrom the Samson post, will cause' movement of the rod 70 in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 and will thereby move thewrenches 72 in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig.4. With the members 71 arranged over the pulleys 90 the pull on thewrenches 72 will be practically uniform throughout the extent of theirmovement. By arran ing a pressure gauge 95 in one of the ui conductingparts, tools or casings may be wrenched up with the desired pressure, orto the proper tightness. When loosening the tools or casin it is notvitally important .that any partwular pressure be put onl the wrenchesut when tightening tools or casings it is important that they bewrenched' tight enough and yet not too tight. With the apparatus of thepresent invention a joint may be wrenched to anyv predeterminedtightness simply by regulating the pressure admitted into the c linder.

By providing two ilexib e members 71 vand havin two wrenches 72 can besimultaneously operated in opposite directions, thus causing a givenamount of movement of the cross head to move the wrenched parts twice asfar as would be the case if 01,11 one flexible member was connected to asingle Wrench arranged on one of the parts while the 'other part is heldstationary. Further by providing two flexible members the strains aredistributed 'and balanced in the various parts. Y

lt is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted tothe use of two exible members 71 as it is obvious how satisfactoryresults could be had' with only one" member 71 connected to a. wrencharranged on one of the parts to be wrenched if the other part is heldstationary.

In practice when tools or casing are being wrenched the parts beingwrenched and also the wrenches, etc., may be supported or braced in anydesired manner to hold or maintain them in their proper respectivepositions.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim':

0 1. In Well drilling apparatus, a drilling line, operating mechanlsmfor the drilling line, a slidable cross head, a flexible memberconnecting the drilling line 4and cross head and arranged in connectionwith the operating mechanism so that the drilling line is operated bysaid operating mechanism, a stationary cylinder, a piston in thecylinder, and a connecting rod connected to the piston, arranged throughone end of the cylinder, and connected to the cross head so that thedrilling line is supported by fluid pressure in the other end of thecylinder.

2. In well drilling apparatus, a frame, an oscillating pivoted lever, apulley at the outer end of the lever, a pulley at the pivoted portion ofthe lever, a drilling line, a cross head slidably mounted on the frame,a flexible member carried by the pulleys and having one end extendingfrom the outer end of the lever and connected to the drilling line the'other end extending from the pivota portion of the lever and connectedto the cross head, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston in t aconnecting rod connected to the piston arranged through one end of thecylinder, and connected to the cross head so that the drillin line issupported by Huid pressure in the otlier end of the c linder.

e cylinder, and

3. In well dril ing apparatus which in- 4 cludes a drilling line andoperating mechanism therefor, a stationarily mounted Huid 4. In welldrilling apparatus which includes a drilling line and operatingmechanism therefor, a stationary cylinder and piston mechanism, saidmechanism being positioned with respect to the operating mechanism andwith the well so as to be operatively a-ttachable to the drilling lineand operating mechanism, so the drilling line is operated by theoperating mechanism and is adjustably .supported by the cylinder andpiston mechanism,` and so said cylinder and piston mechanism isattachable to tools'at the well for operating them,

5. In a well drilling apparatus, mechanism for operating a wrench at theWellincluding, a stationary fluid pressure-actuated cylinder and pistonmechanism removed from the Well, a iexible member adapted to be attachedto the wrench to connect the wrench with the cylinder and pistonmechanism, and means located between the cylinder and piston mechanismand the well for guiding the flexible member.

6. In a well drilling apparatus, mechanismv for operating two wrenchesat the Well including, a stationary fluid pressure actuated cylinder andpiston mechanism removed from the well, two flexible members adapted tobe attached to the wrenches to connect the cylinder and piston mechanismwith the wrenches, and guide pulleys for the flexible members locatedbetween the Well and the cylinder and piston mechanism.

7. In well drilling apparatus mechanism for operating a wrench at thewell including, a stationary cylinder and piston mechanism removed fromthe well, a rod extending through the piston through one end of thecylinder and away from the well, a flexible member connected with therod and adapted to be attached to the wrench so that fluid pressure inthe other endof the cylinder will move it to actuate the wrench, andmeans for guiding' the flexible member.

8. In well drilllng apparatus that includes a drilling line andoperating mechanism therefor, said operatin' mechanism including aWalking beam a apted to -be reciprocated above the derrick floor andover the mouth of` the well, a cylinder and `piston mechanismstationarily and horizontally mounted near the derrick floor, flexiblemeans connected to said cylinder and piston mechanism and thenceextending to the walking beam where it is operatively connected to thedrilling line whereby the drillm line is adjustably vsupported by said c`1- in er and piston mechanism; said cylin er and piston mechanism beingso itioned with respect to the well that it is a so operativelyattachable to tools at the well for operating them.

9. In well drilling apparatus, a drilling line, operating mechanism forthe drilling line, a slidable cross head, a flexible member connectingthe drilling line with the cross head and arranged in connection withthe operating mechanism so that the drilling line is operated by theoperatingv mechanism, and stationarily mounted fluid pressure means formoving the cross head to adjust the position of the drilling line.

In witness that I claim the fore oing I have hereunto subscribed my namet is 27th day of January, 1921.

ROY E. LEONARD.

